Page 54 of Dante

“Training is one thing. You think she’ll be able to use it?”

“She’ll have to,” I say, my gut turning sour. “I’m also taking a few other precautions. I put a tracker on her phone. Every photograph she takes comes to me in case of an emergency. Don’t tell her it’s there.”

“Smart thinking,” Lorenzo says, looking at me a long moment.

“What’s that look about?”

“What look?”

Lorenzo smiles and shakes his head. “The look of love,” he says, singing the lyrics to the classic hit song. “You really love her, don’t you.”

“Gina’s my responsibility.”

“It’s more than that,” he says, stubbing out his cigar in the ashtray. “You’re genuinely happy with Gina.”

My brows shoot up. That’s a personal question, even for a brother.

“Word of warning, Lorenzo. Keep out. I’m not going to ask twice.”

“Sorry, Dante.” I’m satisfied to hear the sincere apology in his voice.

“You’ll get your own ‘ball and chain’ one of these days,” I tease. “From what I hear, the Chicago outfit’s looking hard to marry into our family. And you’re a prime candidate.”

“Hold them at arm’s length, Dante, I beg you,” Lorenzo teases, matching my tone. “No marriage for me until I’m past Silvio’s age. And maybe not even then.”

“What do you have against marriage? Women adore you.”

“Maybe that’s the problem. Too many women, too little time.”

We both laugh and head towards the door to rejoin the party.

“Lorenzo, hold up,” I say, just before I turn the knob. “I want you to promise that if something happens to me, Gina will be taken care of. Protected.”

“What the hell are you saying, bro? Nothing’s gonna happen to you. You’re the ice man.”

“I know. Just promise.”

“Sure. I promise, bro.”

I look into my brother’s black eyes. He means it.

“Good.”

CHAPTER 20

GINA

The dinner party finally comes to an end. Dante bids everyone goodbye and leads me to the car.

I keep checking out of the corner of my eye to see if Thomas or one of Silvio’s staffers is bringing Biscotti to me.

My ears strain to hear his familiar yip.

But my stomach sinks as Dante opens the back door of the limo. I don’t see Biscotti in the back seat.

What have these monsters done with him!?

“Here you go, Signora Ricci,” says Thomas, handing Biscotti to me a moment later.